Published: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 11:43 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 11:43 a.m.

Local Carnival parades escaped a downpour that forecasters had billed as a near certainty and made it through Fat Tuesday's routes with barely a drizzle.

In Thibodaux, the Krewe of Ghana rolled.

“It was beautiful, I enjoyed it, it was something I'll never forget,” the krewe's queen, Marshellia Thompson, said today. “I had a wonderful day. In my eyes, it was beautiful, despite the fact that we had a little rain. I felt beautiful. Great day.”

Ghana's king, Troy Hunt, was equally elated.

“It felt good,” he said.

While he was rolling down the streets, “waving, smiling, having fun,” he said he just kept thinking “thank you to my mom, sister, my family the good Lord.”

In Houma, Main Street was lined with spectators waiting to greet the Krewe of Houmas.

King Houmas LXVII Donald Kinnard, a 30-year krewe veteran, led the parade's 300 riders under the theme “Only Make Believe.” Among his float riders were his two sons and brother, who rode as dukes, and his three grandchildren, who were pages.

“It was a family affair,” Kinnard said.

Aside from some scattered showers and crowds thinner than he had hoped for, Kinnard said it was a great ride.

“It was a little sparse because of the weather,” he said. “But it was a decent crowd.”

Kinnard said reigning as Houma's Mardi Gras king was an honor and a privilege.

“I didn't realize that many people knew me,” he said. “It was very humbling.”

Now that the Carnival parade season has ended, Kinnard said his krewe will take a short reprieve “and then start getting ready for next year.”

The Krewe of Kajuns followed Houmas, and the Krewe de Bonne Terre rolled later in Montegut.

Spectators Debbie and Josh Short of Houma said they knew they were at risk of getting wet, so they gathered under a tree at Goode and Main streets with umbrellas handy. As long as there was no heavy rain or thunder, they said they were willing to stick it out because Mardi Gras is an important celebration.

Jason Heller of Houma brought his 9-year-old nephew to the Houmas parade. Heller said he enjoys seeing the floats and costumes but also helping his nephew catch and round up beads and other trinkets thrown by float riders.

Thibodaux's Krewe of Cleophas, the city's largest parade, rolled Sunday. Krewe captain Audie Levron said the parade rolled with “great stride” again this year with only brief showers.

“We had a small shower, but that was the extent of it,” he said. “After that, everything was beautiful, and it was a really great time for us all. The streets were full.”

Krewe treasurer Gwen Levron said the parade was “wonderful” and the streets were crowded.

Gwen, a 27-year Houma Mardi Gras veteran, said Cleophas is a family-oriented krewe that works to ensure float riders and revelers enjoy the parade.

“It was a wonderful turnout,” she said, “and the people were all well-behaved.”

Other parades on Mardi Gras in Lafourche included the Krewe of Gheens, the Krewe on Neptune in Galliano and Golden Meadow, the Krewe of Choupic in Chackbay and Choupic and the Krewe of Ghana in Thibodaux.

Area police gave a sunny report of no major crime in Thibodaux, Houma, or Lafourche, Terrebonne and Assumption parishes.

<p>Local Carnival parades escaped a downpour that forecasters had billed as a near certainty and made it through Fat Tuesday's routes with barely a drizzle.</p><p>In Thibodaux, the Krewe of Ghana rolled.</p><p>“It was beautiful, I enjoyed it, it was something I'll never forget,” the krewe's queen, Marshellia Thompson, said today. “I had a wonderful day. In my eyes, it was beautiful, despite the fact that we had a little rain. I felt beautiful. Great day.”</p><p>Ghana's king, Troy Hunt, was equally elated.</p><p>“It felt good,” he said.</p><p>While he was rolling down the streets, “waving, smiling, having fun,” he said he just kept thinking “thank you to my mom, sister, my family the good Lord.”</p><p>In Houma, Main Street was lined with spectators waiting to greet the Krewe of Houmas.</p><p>King Houmas LXVII Donald Kinnard, a 30-year krewe veteran, led the parade's 300 riders under the theme “Only Make Believe.” Among his float riders were his two sons and brother, who rode as dukes, and his three grandchildren, who were pages.</p><p>“It was a family affair,” Kinnard said.</p><p>Aside from some scattered showers and crowds thinner than he had hoped for, Kinnard said it was a great ride.</p><p>“It was a little sparse because of the weather,” he said. “But it was a decent crowd.”</p><p>Kinnard said reigning as Houma's Mardi Gras king was an honor and a privilege.</p><p>“I didn't realize that many people knew me,” he said. “It was very humbling.”</p><p>Now that the Carnival parade season has ended, Kinnard said his krewe will take a short reprieve “and then start getting ready for next year.”</p><p>The Krewe of Kajuns followed Houmas, and the Krewe de Bonne Terre rolled later in Montegut.</p><p>Spectators Debbie and Josh Short of Houma said they knew they were at risk of getting wet, so they gathered under a tree at Goode and Main streets with umbrellas handy. As long as there was no heavy rain or thunder, they said they were willing to stick it out because Mardi Gras is an important celebration.</p><p>Jason Heller of Houma brought his 9-year-old nephew to the Houmas parade. Heller said he enjoys seeing the floats and costumes but also helping his nephew catch and round up beads and other trinkets thrown by float riders.</p><p>Thibodaux's Krewe of Cleophas, the city's largest parade, rolled Sunday. Krewe captain Audie Levron said the parade rolled with “great stride” again this year with only brief showers.</p><p>“We had a small shower, but that was the extent of it,” he said. “After that, everything was beautiful, and it was a really great time for us all. The streets were full.”</p><p>Krewe treasurer Gwen Levron said the parade was “wonderful” and the streets were crowded. </p><p>Gwen, a 27-year Houma Mardi Gras veteran, said Cleophas is a family-oriented krewe that works to ensure float riders and revelers enjoy the parade.</p><p>“It was a wonderful turnout,” she said, “and the people were all well-behaved.”</p><p>Other parades on Mardi Gras in Lafourche included the Krewe of Gheens, the Krewe on Neptune in Galliano and Golden Meadow, the Krewe of Choupic in Chackbay and Choupic and the Krewe of Ghana in Thibodaux. </p><p>Area police gave a sunny report of no major crime in Thibodaux, Houma, or Lafourche, Terrebonne and Assumption parishes.</p>